The modern ICB 200s had a budget feel to them, true, but not in a discouraging way. In fact, the alder body chequered one is even lighter and feels even "cheaper". The sound is nothing to write home about, but does what it needs to do and if you can't make yourself heard with it in a rock band without people complaining then you should perhaps pick up tennis or fondle your Ritter bass.
The ICB 300 EX feels like a real instrument already, the Sharlee Signature thing like a tank, but reassuringly expensive "substantial" (I'll admit that a heavier bass always feels worthier to me than a lighter one).
I agree, the nineties ICB 300 felt better than the modern ICB 200, in fact it didn't feel much different than, say, a P Bass would. The ICB 500 otoh was already a little petite for my taste (slightly smaller body) and its very middish - nicely middish though, not nasty and cheap - sound might not be for everyone. Certainly not a Chris Squire sound bass, but probably a great fretless one.
I still think that if a TBird and an Explorer had a romantic night together, the Iceman would be the love child (with a Ric 4001 as a nanny!) they would be proud of years after.
Chris mentioned it first and he is right though it never occurred to me: There is also a 4001 influence in the design which is why I like it so much. When push comes to shove then TBird, Explorer, 4001 and of course the Iceman are my favorite bass shapes (plus the Kubicki Factor, but that echoes the 4001 as well me thinks). In comparison, the P bass is a utilitarian visual crime.
